Share This Story!

Brett Mills extends family legacy of OC football success

There’s three generations of Purple and Gold in Brett Mills’ heritage, beginning with his grandfather, Mickey Mills, who coached the Vikings for 20 seasons and reigns as the winningest coach in school history.

Join the Conversation

Brett Mills extends family legacy of OC football success

Bobby Ardoin
1:07 p.m. CDT August 12, 2014

Buy Photo

Brett Mills and cheerleader Natalie Simoneaux share a lighter moment last week during the annual Opelousas Catholic football picture day on the Vikings’ practice field. Mills, the third generation of his family to play for OC, is expected to play a large part in the Vikings’ success this season on offense and defense.
(Photo:
Bobby Ardoin/Daily World
)Buy Photo

The times they watch the game together also include the instructional moments that Brett Mills has absorbed, cherished and taken with him, embracing the wisdom obtained while his football career has progressed.

“He taught me everything there is to know and that has carried me along and showed me the way,” said Mills, a 210-pound senior tight end for Opelousas Catholic of his grandfather.

No surprises there.

There’s three generations of Purple and Gold in Brett Mills’ heritage, beginning with his grandfather, Mickey Mills, who coached the Vikings for 20 seasons and reigns as the winningest coach in school history.

Then there was Brett Mills, father, Mike Mills, who played football and baseball for the Vikings.

Mickey Mills’ 1974 team won a state football championship – the school’s only 11-man football title – long before Brett Mills was born, but when the two watch college and football games together, those leisurely moments also include the occasional tutorials.

“Growing up in that atmosphere has really helped me. I think the thing that (Mickey Mills) has taught me the most is about vision.

“He’s always emphasized that the great players have vision. You can get bigger and stronger, he said, but if you don’t have the vision and react to what you see on the field, you won’t be a good player,” Brett Mills said.

It’s the awareness, said Brett Mills, that separates the ordinary from the exceptional.

“Just keep your eyes open when you’re out there on the field,” he said.

Mills anticipates this to be a special year, his senior season that follows one that had sporadic success due to injuries in 2013.

First-year Vikings’ head coach Dane Charpentier, who also comes from a coaching family, has Mills also playing defense this season.

The idea, Charpentier said, is to capture Mills’ size and athletic ability, intertwining those with an experienced unit that has all but one starter returning.

Charpentier also thinks Mills is on the threshold of a good season.

“He’s had a great summer. (Mills) didn’t miss a workout. He has shown great dedication and we are looking for great production from him,” said Charpentier.

Charpentier plans to expand the scope of the Vikings’ spread offense, a pass first and run later system that will have several new components.

Mills is scheduled to be one of the integral parts, Charpentier said.

“We will line him up at tight end, in the slot and out on the wing. He’s a versatile player and we plan to use him that way,” Charpentier said.